Knockout

When is a box not a box? The answer is, I don’t really care. Why do we need so many labels anyway? The world needs fewer labels. Everyone, and everything, can simply be appreciated on its own merit. Take this knock-out of a puzzle, for instance. It might have been born in pieces. People might look at it and call it an assembly puzzle. But deep in its heart, it knows it has always been meant to be a box.

KO Box by Takeyuki Endo

The KOPA box (also known as the KO box) by Takeyuki Endo from Japan is actually meant to be a box. It says so in the name, it’s a box. But unlike most puzzle boxes, this one comes in pieces. Three pieces, to be exact – a very small four sided “drawer”, which fits perfectly inside another four sided piece which is itself connected to a “C” shaped piece, and a final separate “C” shaped piece. Three pieces which are meant to all fit together and make a perfect cube. 

Let's see here, should be fairly straightforward ...

Once constructed, the inner compartment can hold a small object securely – it’s a box, after all. The trick is, how does it all fit together? It actually seems rather obvious, once you hold it all in your hands. Only, just as you are about to snap everything into place, it doesn’t. And this delusion of ease continues for a while, until it is quite clear that it can’t be done. Allard wrote about it brilliantly here, describing this process exactly. After a short while, the inevitable conclusion is that this is an impossible puzzle.

The fit that will give you fits

Only, it isn’t. Having others in the world assure you that there is an elegant solution (Kevin solved it as well here) leads you to pick this up again and again, for days or weeks on end. Without that knowledge you might be tempted to simply give it up. But the revelation is astounding, and one of the most satisfying I have experienced. It boggles the mind to contemplate how Endo came up with this absolutely brilliant puzzle. It’s also not surprising that it ended up on a few “best puzzle of the year” selections last year. Endo also crafts these with elegant beauty, in light weight wood that’s easy to hold, a nice polish, and pretty little accents and details which are purely aesthetic and add a lovely touch. He is a perfect puzzle designer. If you ever get the chance to experience this puzzle box, don’t pass it up.

"Knockout Punch" by Adam Bernbach

For such a “knock-out” of a puzzle box I wanted a “K-O” of a cocktail to toast it with as well. I found what I was looking for from the creative team behind the drinks at 2 Birds 1 Stone, a speakeasy style bar in Washington, DC. Head barman Adam Bernbach, whose drinks I have featured before, created this doozy for “Garden and Gun” magazine in 2014, which they dubbed a “knockout punch”. It’s a delicious bourbon based punch featuring toasted cinnamon, ginger, lemon, cranberry, and rich sweet Madeira wine.

I love anything with Madeira, my dear

Madeira is one of my favorite ingredients and delicious on its own as a dessert wine. Similar to port, it is a sweet fortified wine (meaning it has an additional distilled spirit added, such as brandy) which originated from the island of Madeira off Portugal. Fortification of wine was typical in the seventeenth century, to prevent wine from spoiling during transport on long sea voyages. Conditions on these ships would range from hot in the tropics to cool as they made their way to the Americas. This process of heating and cooling lent the wine new flavors of roasted nuts, stewed fruit, caramel and toffee. Like many spirits, there are different profiles for Madeira. Malmsey, such as what is used in this recipe, is the richest and sweetest of them all, perfect for a decadent after dinner sip and wonderful in a cocktail.

Here’s to a knock-out pair. Cheers!

Harry Ellis Commemorative “Knockout” Punch by Adam Bernbach

8 cinnamon sticks, toasted

1 750 ml bottle of bourbon

8 oz granulated sugar

4 oz ginger juice

4 oz fresh lemon juice

4 oz unsweetened cranberry juice

6 oz Malmsey Madeira

24 oz sparkling or soda water

Fresh nutmeg

Infuse the cinnamon sticks in the bourbon overnight. Combine all ingredients in a punch bowl and stir to combine. Serve over ice. For individual servings prepare roughly 1/10th of each ingredient.